Protecting EU plant health

4.10.2013

Question for written answer E-011408-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Iratxe García Pérez (S&D) , Josefa Andrés Barea (S&D) , Andrés Perelló Rodríguez (S&D)

In November 2012, the EU announced measures to combat the risk of infection to European plantations, due to imports of citrus fruit with Guignardia citricarpa (black spot) from South Africa. This was the Commission’s response to the increase recorded in the number of cases detected since 2011 and the lack of cooperation from the South African authorities. Consequently, the Commission announced drastic measures, such as the suspension of imports of citrus fruit from South Africa were a fifth case to be detected and were the South African authorities to continue not to provide sufficient safety guarantees.

However, despite this fifth case having been detected at the end of August, the Commission has still not reacted, claiming that the season is ending and it is ‘analysing the situation’ or evaluating possible measures.

Why does the Commission not immediately close the border to these imports as a precaution, when the risks to EU plant health have already been very clearly demonstrated?

Is there any new information to explain why the Commission does not act according to its own guidelines, announced in March?

OJ C 216, 09/07/2014